Legislative council member from Hamas denies reports his nephew, Abdul Latif Ashkar, who is considered Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's heir, died in Sudan Port strike

Elior Levy|Published: 04.07.11 , 12:30

Member of the Palestinian legislative council from Hamas Ismail Ashkar announced Thursday that his nephew Abdul Latif Ashkar survived the Port Sudan strike on Tuesday. Al-Arabiya reported earlier that Abdul Latif, who is considered Mahmoud al-Mabhouh's heir, was one of the victims.

Two people were killed in the aerial attack on
a car in Port Sudan on Tuesday, one of whom was reportedly a Hamas man.

The legislator stressed that his nephew is doing well. "God saved him," he said. Ashkar described Abdul Latif as a prominent leader in Hamas's military wing who had escaped several attempts on his life.

Hamas' Deputy Politburo Chief Moussa Abu Marzouk also addressed the matter in an interview with al-Quds al-Arabi and stressed the two victims were not Palestinians and were in no way connected to Hamas. Meanwhile, Iranian sources in Damascus said the victims were not associated with Iran.

On Tuesday night it was reported that planes had entered Sudan's aerial space via the Red Sea and fired a missile at a car carrying two men. According to the reports, the Sudanese army fired missiles at the plane which was not hit.

Eye witnesses reported seeing two apache-like planes.

However, the identity of the victims remains unclear.

On Wednesday, it was reported that one of the victims was a Sudanese man, while Al-Arabiya later reported the other victim was an Arab national who may be linked to Hamas. The Sudan police later told the network the two were both Sudanese men suspected of arms trafficking.